LUCKNOW: Urban development minister Azam Khan on Friday announced construction of 4,000 houses for urban poor under the 'Aasra' scheme at the cost of Rs 100 crore in the current budget session. Surprisingly, the announced scheme closely resembles an ambitious scheme in the name of former chief minister Mayawati's mentor, Kanshiram. The scheme has recently been infused with a fresh dose of funds of over Rs 100 crore to get it completed by the end of present financial year.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi landed in Varanasi on Tuesday morning and went on a tour of villages in Naxal-affected Chandauli and Mirzapur districts of eastern UP. He held chaupals and interacted

Following an agitation by the farmers of Katesar village in Chandauli district against land acquisition by the Varanasi Development Authority to develop a cultural city along the Ganga, the government has decided to postpone the acquisition for the time being.

In a gruesome incident of violence against wild animals, villagers in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli district killed a leopard with spears and iron weapons. Of the six villagers booked for killing the animal, two have been arrested, officials said.